Max Verstappen has confirmed where he will race in the 2025 Formula 1 season after doubts about his future.
The possibility of Verstappen leaving Red Bull grew in the early part of the season as tensions rose within the team in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia against the backdrop of the investigation into team principal Christian Horner.
In Saudi Arabia, Verstappen appeared to suggest that if key ally Helmut Marko was removed from his position as motorsport advisor, he, too, could leave, with Mercedes’ Toto Wolff keen to sign the Dutchman as a replacement for Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.
However, the threat of Verstappen leaving Red Bull ahead of 2025 was always deemed remote, with the three-time F1 champion now declaring he will stay with the team for a ninth full season at the start of next term.
“I don’t think that is how Formula 1 works, where you could suddenly say, ‘Bye guys,” Verstappen told media including RacingNews365 when asked if he would leave Red Bull if it did not have the fastest car.
“I have a long contract with the team and I’m very happy where I am at.
“We are focusing on next year with things that we can implement on the car, so I guess that should say enough for where I am driving next year.”
When further pushed for a straight yes or no answer as to whether he would continue with Red Bull, Verstappen gave a firm answer.
“You didn’t get that out of my answer before?” he continued. “Yes.
“We’re working on next year’s car and the thing is that when you are very focused on that, it means you are driving for that team.”
Although it has had the fastest car through the ground-effect era and won seven of the 10 races in 2024, Red Bull has been reeled in, with McLaren considered by some to be the outright fastest machine.
Verstappen doubled down on his commitment to Red Bull as the team works on creating the 2025 RB21.
“I’ve said this before, and naturally people are talking of course, but it is most important that we just have a very competitive car for the future,” said Verstappen.
“At the moment it is very tight but we are working well as a team to try and improve and for sure, I already said this to the team, we are working and focusing on next year to try and be competitive again.